Raleigh Triathletes: Open Water Swim Tractice?

Every Wednesday night at 6pm (during the warmer months) there is an open water swim at Falls Lake. go to trirats.org, click on training and then calendar... see you there.


DIRECTIONS: To walk down to the cove you need to park at a gravel turnoff on the south side of 98 about 100 yards east from the spot. To get there from Creedmoor Road (Hwy 50) you would go east on 98, past the light on Six Forks Road and park on the right just past the second bridge over Falls Lake, before you get to the next light (Thompson Mill on left/Falls of the Neuse on right). There are several miles of road on 98 between the two lights on Six Forks Road and Thompson Mill/Falls of the Neuse. The first bridge over Falls Lake after Six Forks Road is over a big section of Falls Lake and boat traffic can pass under. The second bridge is not really a bridge, but water can flow under the road in pipes.
1. No Lifeguard On Duty... Swim At Your Own Risk...
2. If you get tired or feel that you must stop, get to the shore. The course we swim follows the shoreline of a cove and we never leave the cove. The shore is on the left out 1/2 mile and on the right back, so you should never be too far from the shore.
3. If it is your first time out and you have been swimming for 15 to 20 minutes and are not sure if you hit the 1/2 mile point and see no swimmers ahead of you, turn around.
4. MOST IMPORTANTLY... If this is your first time doing an open water swim, or if you are AT ALL uncomfortable with open water swimming, MAKE SURE you have a swim buddy. Someone that will stay with you for the entire length of your swim. If you do not have a swim buddy, ask someone out there, BEFORE you start swimming. Most, if not all, of us will be happy to be your swim buddy.

Oh...also, if you want something a little more "comfy"...I sometimes go to Jordan Lake...they have a roped off area about 500m long. Seapath is the name of the point that I go to...Parker's Creek and Ebenezer also have areas like this. Was there last week, very cold.

They do an open water swim at Crabtree Lake about a week before the Triangle tri...not sure who sponsors that...maybe Set-upinc or Inside-Out Sports.

Good Luck.

Thanks, Chris. Very helpful info.